From Canvas (Vocabulary) - Unit 4: The Skeletal System

Orthopedics (Orthopedic)

The branch of medicine and medical specialty dealing with the prevention, correction, or treatment of injuries, deformities, functional impairments, and disorders of the skeletal system, spine, extremities, and associated structures (muscles, joints, and ligaments).

Tendons

Connective tissue that attaches bone to muscle.

Ligaments

Connective tissue that attaches bone to bone; holds bones together in synovial joints.

Hematopoiesis

The formation and production of blood cells, which occurs in the red bone marrow throughout one's life.

Diaphysis

The shaft of a long bone.

Epiphysis

The bulb-shaped location at each end of a long bone that gives room for muscle attachments.

Epiphyseal line

A line of cartilage that separates the diaphysis from the epiphysis.

Periosteum

The thick white fibrous membrane that covers the surface of a long bone except at the joints.

Medullary cavity

A hollow cylinder of compact bone inside the outer layer which contains fat-storing yellow bone marrow.

Compact bone

Dense outer bone layer characterized by a system of lengthwise Haversian canals containing blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves to transport nutrients and oxygen.

Haversian canals

Canals found in compact bone extending lengthwise that contain blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves for transporting nutrients and oxygen to bone cells.

Spongy bone (Trabecular bone)

Less dense bone arranged along lines of stress for added strength; spaces are filled with red bone marrow where blood cell production occurs.

Osteoblasts

Embryonic cells that produce new bony tissue, replacing cartilage through a process known as ossification.

Osteocytes

Mature bone cells.

Osteoclasts

Cells that absorb and break down old bony tissue while osteoblasts produce new tissue.

Cranium

The bony skull that envelops the brain, consisting of 8 immovable bones whose borders meet to form sutures.

Maxillary bones (Maxillary)

The bones of the upper jaw, fused at the midline by a suture, containing the maxillary sinuses and tooth sockets.

Mandibular bone (Mandible)

The lower jawbone; it is the largest, strongest bone of the face and the only movable bone of the skull.

Vertebral bones (Vertebral column)

Bones forming the long axis of the body that protect the spinal cord, separated by cartilaginous intervertebral disks acting as shock absorbers.

Cervical vertebrae

The first segment of the vertebral column located in the neck, providing flexibility via intervertebral disks.

Thoracic vertebrae

The second (chest) segment of the vertebral column, providing flexibility and forming the center back support of the thoracic cavity.

Lumbar vertebrae (Lumbar)

The third segment of the vertebral column representing the loins or lower back, located between the thoracic vertebrae and the sacrum.

Sacrum

The fourth segment of the vertebral column, located below the lumbar vertebrae and positioned between the two hip bones.

Coccyx

A small triangular tailbone forming the fifth and final segment at the very end of the spinal column.

Thoracic cavity

The chest cavity consisting of the ribs, sternum, and thoracic vertebrae supporting the back.

Intercostal spaces

The spaces between the ribs containing blood vessels, nerves, and muscles.

True ribs

The first seven pairs of ribs that attach to the sternum in front via costal cartilage and to the vertebrae in the back.

Costal

Pertaining to the ribs.

False ribs

Rib pairs 8–10 that connect to the vertebrae in the back but attach to the cartilage of the rib above rather than the sternum in front.

Floating ribs

Rib pairs 11 and 12 that attach to the vertebrae in the back but have no attachment in the front.

Scapula

The shoulder blade.

Clavicle

The collarbone.

Humerus

The long bone in the upper arm extending from the shoulder to the elbow.

Radius

One of the two lower arm bones, located on the lateral (thumb) side; joins the humerus above and wrist below.

Ulna

The lower arm bone located on the medial (little finger) side; joins the humerus and wrist bones.

Carpals (Carpal)

The eight bones constituting the wrist.

Metacarpals (Metacarpal)

Bones of the hand located between the carpal wrist bones and the phalanges.

Phalanges (Phalange)

Bones of the fingers or toes (digits); each finger/toe has 3, while the thumb/big toe has 2.

Pelvis

The lower part of the body trunk supporting the vertebral column and connecting the skeleton; formed by the hip bones (ilium, ischium, pubis), sacrum, and coccyx.

Ilium

The broad, upper portion of either hipbone.

Ischium

The lowest of the three major bones constituting each half of the pelvis; the "seat bone."

Pubis

The anterior/lower portion of the hip bone forming the pelvis.

Acetabulum

The deep, cup-like hip socket cavity on the side of the hipbone that receives the ball-shaped head of the femur.

Femur

The thighbone extending from the pelvis to the knee; it is the longest, largest, heaviest, and strongest bone in the body.

Patella (Patellar)

The flat, movable kneecap bone covering and protecting the knee joint.

Tibia

The shin bone located on the medial (big toe) side of the lower leg.

Fibula

The outer, thinner, and slender leg bone located lateral to the tibia, whose prominence forms part of the ankle.

Tarsals (Tarsal)

The seven bones constituting the ankle.

Metatarsals (Metatarsal)

Bones of the foot located between the tarsal ankle bones and the phalanges.

Joint (Articulation)

The point at which two individual bones connect or fit together.

Sutures

Immovable fibrous joints that bind bones closely together, such as those in the skull.

Fibrous joint

An immovable joint where the closely fitting surfaces of bone are held together by fibrous connective tissue.

Cartilaginous joint

A joint with limited movement where the bones are connected by cartilage.

Synovial joint

A free-movement joint featuring a joint cavity lined with a synovial membrane that secretes a viscous, lubricating synovial fluid.

Hinge joint

A type of synovial joint allowing a back-and-forth motion.

Ball and Socket joint

A type of synovial joint allowing movement in many directions around a central point.

Bursa

Small sacs filled with synovial fluid that cushion points of friction between bones, tendons, and muscles around a joint.

Kyphosis (Kyphos)

An abnormal, convex outward curvature of the spine resulting in a hunchback or humpback bulge at the upper back.

Convex

A surface that is curved or rounded outward.

Lordosis

An abnormal inward curvature of the spine, also called swayback.

Scoliosis

An abnormal lateral (side-to-side) curvature of the spine.

Spinal Stenosis

An abnormal condition involving the narrowing or restriction of a passageway, specifically the spinal column.

Spondylosis

Degeneration of the spinal column, especially leading to fusion and immobilization of the vertebral bones.

Osteomyelitis

Inflammation of the bone and bone marrow.

Sarcoma

A malignant tumor of the flesh or connective tissue.

Melanoma

A tumor involving melanin, the pigment in the basal layer of the epidermis.

Idiopathic

Of unknown cause or origin.

Congenital

Present at birth.

Pathological

Caused by or pertaining to a disease.

Apnea

Without breathing.

Atrophy

Without growth or development; wasting away of tissue.

Hemialgia

Pain affecting one half of the body.

Megalgia

Very severe pain.

Plantalgia

Pain on the plantar surface (sole) of the foot.

Intercerebral

Between the cerebral hemispheres of the brain.